I’m 55 years old and a first-time car buyer. My budget is ₹9-11 lakh. I’ll use the car mostly in the city, with a 400 km highway trip once every two months. My requirements: safety, automatic transmission, and a 4-cylinder engine. Can you please suggest suitable models?

Autocar India

•17w

There are a number of options available based on your requirements. If you want a hatchback, go for the Maruti Suzuki Baleno. It comes with a smooth 4-cylinder engine paired to an AMT automatic gearbox, and it comes with 6 airbags and a 4-star safety rating from Global NCAP. However, if you prefer a small SUV or a crossover, consider the Maruti Suzuki Fronx, which comes with the same four-cylinder engine and safety features as the Baleno. Do note, both these models are also available as rebadged Toyotas in the form of the Glanza (Baleno) and Taisor (Fronx).

Explore cars mentioned

Maruti Suzuki

Baleno

from ₹6.65 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Fronx

from ₹7.79 Lakh

Toyota

Urban Cruiser Taisor

from ₹8.24 Lakh

Toyota

Glanza

from ₹7.36 Lakh

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Latest questions people are discussing

Anushank

•17h

I am planning to sell my Mahindra XUV500 as it is nearing the end of its registration validity in Delhi NCR, and I want to buy a 5-seater SUV under ₹10 lakh. My preference is for a fuel-efficient car as my daily running is around 100 km, but it should also be spacious enough for five people. Since fuel efficiency is a priority, I am open to both CNG and diesel cars. My usage will be 70% city and 30% highway, mostly within Delhi NCR. I have narrowed my choices to the Maruti Brezza CNG, Tata Nexon CNG, Kia Sonet Diesel, and Maruti Fronx CNG. Please help me evaluate which would be the better option. I am also open to any other better option if available.

Autocar India

•16m

The Maruti Brezza CNG and Fronx CNG will be more fuel efficient than the Nexon iCNG, and their clutch and gearbox make them friendlier to drive, too. The Brezza is due for a facelift in the coming weeks, so you might want to wait for that to arrive. The Kia Sonet diesel will feel punchier to drive (than the CNG options listed above), while being very efficient too. Also, by opting for a diesel, you won't need to wait in long queues to refill CNG. Even the Sonet is due for a generation update, which is likely to be launched this year. Another option you could consider is the Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel MX2, which is more spacious than a Sonet. Its ride-handling balance is very impressive; the Sonet, however, has an edge in terms of fuel efficiency.

Umang Jaiswal

Within a budget of around ₹12 lakh (could extend some), I want to buy a petrol manual car which is fun to drive, reliable and will not be so heavy on my pocket for fueling and maintenance. My monthly usage is around 400km, mostly city and occasional road trips. Which car will you suggest?

Autocar India

•1d

You can consider the Maruti Suzuki Fronx or the Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor in their top turbo petrol manual variants. The engine, despite being turbocharged, has hardly any turbo lag and offers good punch. It also comes with a light clutch and a slick gearbox, which makes it easy to drive in the city. Even on an open road or around a ghat section, both these cars are surprisingly fun to drive, and over bad roads, the suspension delivers a comfortable ride as well. For a turbo petrol engine, efficiency is also quite impressive. Overall, there is actually not much to fault here.If you want something that feels a bit more premium, you can look at the Skoda Kylaq, the Signature+ MT variant. The Kylaq is a fun car to drive, but the clutch is heavier, and you will feel more turbo lag. It will also not be as efficient as the Fronx turbo petrol, and the peace of mind ownership experience may not be as strong.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor

Skoda Kylaq

Vigneshwar S

•3d

I am planning to buy a new car under ₹7 lakh. I am looking for a car with smooth engine performance and enhanced safety features.

Autocar India

•58m

We would recommend you look at the Maruti Suzuki Celerio. Refinement from the 1.0 litre engine is much better than you would expect from a three-cylinder engine, and minimal vibrations filter into the cabin. The overall performance is smooth and easy for normal everyday driving, and at low city speeds, it even feels a bit eager, and it is thus quite enjoyable to drive. In terms of safety, the car is well equipped with safety features like 6 airbags, anti-locking brakes (ABS) and electronic stability program (ESP). It also scored a three-star crash safety rating in the GNCAP test. You can get cars with a better crash rating, like the Tata Tiago, for instance, but you will not find the engine as smooth.

Maruti Suzuki Celerio

Tata Tiago

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